Road scraper



April 5 1937- E. B. MALQoN 2,078,501

' ROAD SCRAPER Filed Nov. 27, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 6 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYf ROAD 5 CRAPER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 27, 1935 INVENTOR. Q

@if z m ATToRmyg.

BY m r Patented Apr. 27, 1937 ROAD SCRAPER Earl B. Maloon, Milwaukee,Wis, minor to The Hell .00., Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of WisconsinApplication November 27, 1935, Serial No. 51,774

Claims. (01. a'z-icel My present invention involves improvements in theart of land grading, and relates specifically to improvements in theconstruction and operation of road scrapers especially adapted to be 5drawn along the ground by a tractor or the like.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved roadscraperassemblage which is simple and durable in construction; and which ismoreover flexible and highly 'efllcient in opera- It has heretofore beenproposed in the art-of grading, to provide a scraper assemblagecomprising a blade having a forwardly extending rigid draft arm capableof being attached to the propelling vehicle, and a supporting carriagedisposed rearwardly of the blade for adjustably suspending the latter.Such a general assemblage is shown and described'in my copendingapplication Serial No. 45,181 filed October 16, 1935, and

the rear suspension for the blade upon the supporting carriage ispreferably so formed that when the scraper blade is raised and loweredrelative to the ground, minimum power isrequired to free the cuttingedge from the earth and rock accumulated thereon, and toproperlyposition the blade at the desired grade. It is also desirable tomake some provision for maintaining the grading blade in proper cuttingposition when relatively deep cutting is being efiected, and while thiscan readily be accomplished with heavy scrapers of large capacity, itpresents quite a serious problem in lighter scraper assemblages.

It is therefore a more specific object of the present invention toprovide an improved grader assembly of the type disclosed in my priorapplication above referred to, having improved mechanism for adjustablypositioning the cutting blade.

Another specific object of the present invention is the provision of anew and useful scraper unit of relatively light but durableconstruction, having means for effectively maintaining the scraping edgein proper position at all times and especially during deep or inclinedgrading.

A further specificobject of the invention is to provide arelativelysmall and compact grading unit of large, capacity, which isextremely flexible in operation and adapted to cooperate effectivelywith sloping and relatively rough ground.

Still another specific object of the invention is the provision ofimproved hydraulically actuated mechanism for raising, lowering, ortilting the scraping blade of a tractor propelled road grader or thelike, either from the tractor or from the grader unit itself. l5 Anadditional specific object of the invention is to provide an improvedscraper unit which aside from being manually controllable, is entirelyautomatic in operation, and which canbe manufactured, sold and operatedat extremely moderate cost. 5

The above and other objects and advantages ofthe present improvement,will be apparent from the following detailed description.

A clear conception of the several features constituting the presentinvention, and of the mode 10 of constructing and of manipulating roadscrapers built in accordance with the improvement, maybe had byreferring to the drawings accompanying and forming a part of thisspecification in which like reference characters designate the 16 sameor similar parts in the various views.

Fig. l is a side elevation of the improved hydraulically actuatedscraper unit, showing the same in normal surface grading condition;

Fig. 2 is an end View of the. scraper unit of 20 Fig. 1, showing one ofthe rear suspension wheels in dot-and -dash lines in its lowermostposition of adJustment, and similarly illustrating the other rear wheelin its uppermost position;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation similar to Fig. 1, show- 25 ing the scraperblade elevated away from the ground surface, as during normaltransportation of the unit without scraping; and

Fi 4 is another similar side elevation of the scraper, showing the bladelowered and perform- 30 ing deep grading.

While the invention is shown and described herein as being specificallyapplied to a road scraper of a particular type adapted for scraping dutyalone, it is not the intent to thereby unnec- 3 5 essarily restrict thescope; and some of the novel features of grader construction shown butnot specifically claimed herein, form the subject of my copendingapplication Serial No. 45,181, filed October 16,1935. 40

Referring to the drawings, the improved road scraper comprises ingeneral, a grading'or cutting blade 5 secured by bolts 6 to the lowerportion of 'a curved rear wall I which is rigidly attached at itsopposite extreme ends, to the rear 45 end portions of laterally spacedside plates 8 the upper front portions of which arev rigidly connectedto the ends of a. cross-beam 9 to the medial portion of which agoose-neck arm I 0 is firmly secured; a draw bar ll having a rear pivotI2 50 joumaled in the lower front portion of the arm l0, and providedwith a series of transverse holes ii to which a clevis I4 is adapted tobe swingably attached by means of a coupling pin I 5; a pair of rearsupporting wheels it each of which is rotat ably mounted in a housingbracket l8 having laterally spaced rearwardly and upwardly extendingprojections I9, 20 respectively; a transverse suspension bar 2| securedto the rear extremities of massive ears 22 formed integral with andprojecting rearwardly from a backing plate 23 rigidly attached to therear wall I; and hydraulic jacks 24 connecting the upper portion of theplate 23 with the upper ends of the projections 28.

The frame or bowl assembly including the rear wall 1, side plates 8,cross beam 9, front arm III, backing plate 23, and ears 22, ispreferably formed of strong metal plates and tubing, welded or otherwiserigidly united to form an integral and durable structure, and one ormore reenforcing walls 25 may be interposed between the crossbeam 9and'the curved rear wall 1, intermediate the side plates 8 in order toenhance the rigidity. The top of the bowl is, however, preferably leftopen, and the space in front of the blade 5 should be kept clear andrelatively free from obstruction. The opposite side edges of the backingplate 23 are rigidly attached to the rear extremities of the side plates8, while the forwardly projecting top and bottom portions of the plate23 are likewise rigidly attached to the top and bottom of the wall I,thereby providing a transverse beam having an exceedingly strong boxsection for supporting the ears 22.

The construction of the draw bar is obviously such that it provides auniversal draft connection adapted for attachment to a tractor or otherhaulage vehicle. The rear pivot |2 provides a substantially horizontalswivel having its axis located in the central vertical plane of thebowl, and the pin |5 provides a horizontal transverse pivot which may bedisposed at different selected distances from the ground surface bycausing the pin to coact with any of the holes I3. The clevis I4 isalsoprovided with a vertical front opening 26 which is adapted toreceivethe upright coupling pin of the tractor so as to provide for relativehorizontal angular displacement of the tractor and trailing scraperassembly when turning corners.

The scraper supporting wheels l6 are of relatively massive and heavyconstruction, being formed hollow and having their interiors eitherpartially or completely filled with fluent material 21 such as liquid orfine shot, see Fig. 2. The axles 28 of the wheels l6 are journaled inbearings 29 firmly'attached to the side walls of the adjacent housingbracket l8, and the brackets I may be provided with top coverings forthe wheels l6 and have scraper blades 3|! which are cooperable with thewheel peripheries in order to remove excess mud. The laterally spacedrearwardly extending projections I! of each housing bracket l8, arerigidly connected by a bracing tube 3|, and these tubes 3| embracecylindrical end portions 32 of the bar 2|, so as to permit independentupward and downward swinging of each wheel IS with its suspensionbracket i8. As previously indicated, the bar 2| is rigidly attached tothe ears 22, and the ears 22 are rigidly attached to the remainder ofthe scraping frame, thus compelling the wheels 16 to assume parallelpositions at all times during relative bodily displacement thereof.

Each of the hydraulic jacks 24 comprises a cylinder 33 having front endtrunnions 34 journaled in spaced upstanding ears 35 rigidly attached tothe backing plate 23; and a piston movable within the correspondingcylinder 33 and having a reciprocable rod 36 attached to the swingingends of -theatljacent laterally spaced upwardly extending projections20, by means of a pin 31. Delivery of liquid to and from thedisplacement chambers of the cylinders 33 may be effected throughconnections 38 with the aid of a pump and controlling valves of anydesired type, and the controlling mechanism is preferably such that thejacks 24 may be either simultaneously or independently manipulated. Thisassemblage of jacks 24 and the coaction thereof with the wheelsupporting brackets |8, will obviously permit bodily swinging of thewheels |6 about their pivot portions 32 so as to raise or lower theblade 5 relative to the ground surface 39, as clearly illustrated inFigs. 1, 3 and 4, and during such adjustment of the scraper bowl thescraping edge of the blade 5 moves substantially vertically.

During normal operation of my improved scraper, the assemblage may beutilized either for surface scraping as shown in Fig. 1, or for deepcutting and scraping as illustrated in Fig. 4, or it may be pulled overthe ground surface 39 in inactive position as depicted in Fig. 3. The"clevis I4 of the coupling is normally attached to the tractor orhaulage vehicle, thereby providing means for transporting the trailingscraper, and the hydraulic jacks 24 may be adjusted so as to bring thecutting or scraping blade 5 in proper position relative to the groundsurface 39. As the blade 5 is advanced along or through the earth in thepath of travel of the scraper, it levels the dirt, the side plates 8serving to prevent undesirable escape of excess material at the sides.The wheels l5 function to maintain the blade 5 near the ground surface39 during surface scraping as in Fig. 1; but when the blade becomesembedded in the ground, as in Fig. 4, the wheels l6 are elevated fromthe ground surface and the entire weight of the scraper assemblage thenrests upon the blade and the lower part of the backing plate 23, therebyforcing the cutter into the ground and maintaining it there as thescraper advances. The depth of cutting may be varied by manipulating thejacks 24, and the wheels |6 will prevent cutting to an extent deeperthan the depth which is predetermined by setting of the hoists or jacks.The wheels l6 may however be caused to assume different elevations asindicated in dot-and-dash lines in Fig. 2, in order to maintain theblade 5 horizontal when the scraper is traveling along a hillside, andthe coupling II will permit the entire assemblage to rock both laterallyand longitudinally as it advances along the ground.

From the foregoing detailed description, it will be apparent that thepresent invention provides an improved road scraper assemblage which isextremely simple, compact and durable in construction, and which ishighly flexible and efficient in operation. The side plates 8 not onlyprevent possible weaving of the bowl, but also confine the excess dirtto the path of advancement of the blade 5, and the universal couplingpermits lateral and longitudinal tilting of the bowl, as well as lateralswinging of the assemblage relative to the tractor. The rear wheels I6are adapted to effectively pre-position the scraper blade 5 eitherhorizontally or at any desired inclination, and when the latter iselevated away from the ground surface, the wheels IS with their massiveconstruction and wide faces may be utilized as surface rollers forcompressing and leveling the graded area. a The wheel housing bracketsi8 with their pivot points located rearwardly of the wheel axles, andthe jacks 24 coacting with these brackets, serve to effect rapid andpositive adjustment of the cutting edge with blade and the adjacent beamportion to swing,

, tical adjustment of the scraping blade 5. The

provision of means for effecting independent vertical adjustment of theblade supporting wheels 16, is an important feature of the presentimprovement, since the cutting edge may thereby be adjusted to suit anygrade or slope, by anoperator on the propelling tractor and while thescraper is in motion. The improved scraper can be manufactured, sold,operated and maintained in operation, at extremely moderate cost, andcan handle large yardage considering the space occupied by the unit.

It should be understood that it is not desired to limit the invention tothe exact details of construction and to the precise mode of operation,herein specifically shown and described by way of illustration, sinceobvious modifications within the scope of the claims may occur topersons skilled in the art.

I claim:-

1. In a road scraper, a transportable frame having a front centralfulcrum and a rear substantially upright integral scraper blade providedwith rearwardly extending integral rigid ears, a cross-beam rigidlyattached to the rear extremities of said ears and spaced from the backof said blade, a ground engaging wheel pivotally suspended from each endof said beam and being swingable between the rear of said blade and theadjacent beam end to swing the adjacent portion of said blade about saidfulcrum, and means for 40 effecting independent swinging of said wheelsabout said beam.

2. In a road scraper, a transportable unitary frame having a frontcentral fulcrum and rearwardly extending integral side walls intercon- 4nected at their rear ends by an integral substan- 50 back of said blade,a ground engaging wheel swingably suspended from each of the overhangingends of said beam and being upwardly and downwardly movable between therear of said the adjacent blade portion about said fulcrum, and jackmeans for effecting independent swinging of said wheels about said beam.

3. In a road scraper, a transportable unitary frame having side wallsinterconnected at their 'rear ends by an integral substantially uprightscraper blade having rigid rearwardly projecting ears associated withthe medial portion thereof, a horizontal cross-beam rigidly attached atits medial portion to the rear extremities of said ears and extendingoutwardly beyond said ears in spaced relation to the back of said blade,a

wheel support swingably suspended from each overhanging end portion ofsaid beam and being swingable in the space between said beam end portionand said blade, and a wheel rotatably journaled in the swinging end ofeach of said supports.

4. In a road scraper, a transportable unitary frame having side wallsinterconnected at their rear ends by an integral substantially uprightscraper blade having rigid rearwardly projecting ears associated withthe medial portion thereof, a horizontal cross-beam rigidly attached atits medial portion to the rear extremities of said ears and extendingoutwardly beyond said ears in spaced relation to the back of said blade,a wheel support swingably suspended from each overhanging end portion ofsaid beam and being swingable in the space between said beam end portionand said blade, a wheel rotatably journaled in the swinging end of eachof said sup ports, and means for effecting independent swinging of saidwheel supports about said beam.

5. In a road scraper, a transportable frame having side wallsinterconnected by an integral scraper blade having integral rearwardlyprojecting ears, a horizontal cross-beam rigidly attached to said earsand extending outwardly therefrom in spaced relation to the back of theouter ends of said blade, a wheel support swingably suspended from eachoverhanging end of said beam and being swingable in the space betweensaid beam and the adjacent blade end, a

wheel journaled in the swinging portion of each of said supports, and anindependently operable hydraulic jack carried by each side portion ofsaid frame for swinging each of said supports about said beam toindependently raise and lower said wheels.

EARL B. MALOON.

